The final stage of the 2012-13 high school wrestling season began in earnest Friday.

Due to the recent snowstorm, all classes started their state tournaments several hours late. Despite that delay, three area grapplers managed to keep their title hopes alive.

Leavenworth's Danny Wilson (113) and Nathan Butler (285), in addition to Pleasant Ridge's Jared Johnson (170), all won their first two matches to advance to their respective semifinals today.

“We wrestled tough across the board,” LV coach Jay Johnston said. “I was most happy with Danny. For two years, he came heartbreakingly close to getting a medal. I'm really proud of him for coming back from an injury this summer and at least guaranteeing that he will go home with a medal tomorrow.”

Other highlights from the first day went as follows:

Leavenworth

- Brad Young lost his opening match at 106

- Danial Wilson was beat in his first 132-pound match

- Jacob Harrington lost his first bout at 152

- Tilden Edwards, 160-pounds, was victorious to start but lost in the quarterfinals

- Peter Gardner lost his opening contest at 170

- Josh Ammel came up short in his first 182-pound match

- Kenneth Sculley was beat in the first round at 195

- Jesse Colver won his opening 220-pound match but fell in the quarterfinals

Lansing

- Jordan Girard, at 113, lost in the first round

- Sky Summers suffered an opening round lost at 120

- Cole Hoing pulled out a victory to begin the 126-pound class yet lost in the quarterfinals

- Elijah Hill lost to begin the tournament at 132

- Will Gering was defeated in his first 152-pound match

- Camden Chiles lost at 160 to start

- Caleb Ward was beat at 182 in the first round

Pleasant Ridge

- Clayton Gum, 106, won his first match but lost his second

The state tournaments will conclude today. Follow twitter.com/LVTSportsGuy for results.

“We didn't shoot as much in the first periods and that sort of hurt us,” Johnston said, “but there is a lot more wrestling left for tomorrow.”